Expect the Unexpected

CMW 2011

Every year in March, it became a tradition to gather the YFE family in Toronto during the Canadian Music Week. As much as we prepare for the concerts, rehearsing the songs and preparing what we desire to breathe through the shows, we know for sure what we will live on stage can’t be rehearsed or set up… In fact we absolutely don’t want to plan the emotions and experiences as we want them to be real, spontaneous and a true sharing with those coming and so determined to let the music open their eyes and heart. It’s special, because even if the chords and the lyrics are the same from one concert to another, each show takes a fresh direction, moving alongside the emotions each person in the room carries and also how Alex leads all of us with his invitations to let go, his screams to feel alive, his call out to take a stand for freedom and hope.

I’m always quite impressed by how Alex lets himself be inspired every single night for a specific message to deliver, an emotion to leave everyone or a direction of something that can be lived all together… I wonder how many artists think of their shows that way… with the very first priority being to deliver to anyone in the crowd something fresh and special, an experience that could bring them further… but also something we, on stage, will live and share… Every single show has to be special, different, inspired, true, breaking barriers, an occasion to give our all… “Guys, if we don’t die on stage tonight, it’s not worth it” Alex reminded us before each show. Dying on stage… what’s that suppose to mean? lol I asked myself that question a lot and the answer I came up with is that I should set my desire on giving everything I am, everything I have with no limits or restraints… that would be to give my life and “die”… die to my limits, die to my selfish desires and needs, die to my control… completely letting go and living the moment opened to everyone and anything coming my way.

It was really beautiful to see so many people coming from as far as Ireland, Japan, Germany, South USA, Vancouver gathering with one thing in mind: to live something they never experienced before. And it happened! Not only they lived it, we did too and we extended these incredible life changing experiences to more people as we broadcasted live 2 of the shows on internet! It was very touching to know that as we were broadcasted live, people in Japan were telling us they felt more courage and hope… especially that at this exact same moment another earthquake was hitting them… But we were one… One standing against fear and hopelessness… One screaming “We’re alive!”… One supporting one another with a wave of sound that traveled from concert rooms in Toronto across the planet… across hearts and souls.

This year’s rendez-vous has been special in many ways… So exciting for all the friends we could meet… So devastating for the tragedy striking our family in Japan… So liberating for the experiences we lived during the concerts… So encouraging for the time and discussions we had after the shows, building the relationships and this amazing family we call Your Favorite Enemies. I have faith that what I’ve lived during the YFE CMW 2011 is already bringing me further and is allowing me to hope and desire for more passion, more freedom, more compassion, more openness, more determination and more confidence.

For those who were with us I want to tell you that what we lived together was fabulous, it was real and it’s now up to us to feed that part of our heart that was revived and to keep it sensitive and open. It’s up to you and me to also apply what we have lived together in our daily life, refusing to live as zombies and constantly looking for more and to share what we live with others.

For those who witnessed the live broadcast through internet, please know that you had such an impact on us. To know you were with us, some of you waking up in the middle of the night to be connected with us, sharing your heart, singing while typing on your keyboard… it gave us a lot of strength and power and inspiration.

For those who are reading these lines but didn’t get to live the shows, I truly believe there are plenty of occasions to break the cycle of numbness surrounding us and within us. Music is a great tool to feel alive just as all the sharing we do through messages on every media available. Life creates life and it’s up to us to be that first spark!

Just as I have to discover more of what it means to die on stage every night in order to seed life, we all can discover what real passion means, what giving our all means and how jumping with no safety net can open amazing new horizons. Thank you for being there for me, giving me that extra push, that so needed motivation to jump and be myself, that inspiration to want more and that faith that I will get more!

I love you and, again, I feel so honored to jump by your side… expecting the unexpected!

-Miss Isabel

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Comments (4)

  • Samantha

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    As a crowd member, I think that second show on Friday night was the most we have ever let go and been spontaneous. The energy in the room was incredible and sort of unexpected since we were all so tired, moments before I felt like I could barely stand any longer but then it just hit me and I went up to stand right at the front and gave it my all. I could tell by the looks on some of the band member's faces they were not anticipating the level of spontaneity and unity from us. Lifting Alex above the crowd and then not wanting Midnight's Crashing to ever end… I am quite sure the people at trhe bar that did not come in with us thought we were all in some sort of crazy cult… oh wait 😉 lol I think it just made it that much more special though.. really showed the unity of our group and that we were really living the moment and didn't care what other thought of us.. even embracing how crazy they must have thought we were. =)We are ALIVE and I think Alex made a good point during our live streamed SFCC night.. in that moment we weren't reaching out for a single touch.. we had found it and didn't want to let it go!

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  • italoflores_93

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    Is a very special event gathering YFE family mebmers from all over the world, it could do many new changes in our daily life. The simple fact you met old friends and have the chance to talk to the new ones is something you can't replace with anything. Everyone has a story to tell, and that's what you guys had to had lived during the CMW. Not only remembering the good times of the past but also forming and defining that very new experience.Those are the things which people should not be afraid of opening their hearts, as there're many others like you, who wants to share their feeling and opinions about whatever they're up to. And to know that you can enjoy such moments of joy, happiness and friendship, a rendez-vous is something you can never fail to go to (althought I couldn't make it to Toronto lol).Thanks once again for opening you heart as not many poeple are used to, Miss Isabel, That should be the way everyones express to everyone, with not fear to be judged, with no despair to be ignored, but knowing you will share, even though you can't predict what tipe of will it be, an once-in-a-chance life to show yourself as other people want to and don't have anyone to share with.Lots of love, Italo.

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  • International Lady

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    It is hard to put into words how this weekend has affected me… which is why I guess I havent put pen to paper this time… So thank you for putting your thoughts down.. thank you for enabling us to realise how amazing it was to be a part of this incredible family weekend… Thank you too for enabling our amazing family in Japan and elsewhere to be able to join in these great moments… I still am unable to give any explanation of my feelings… but what I will say is I AM ALIVE!

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  • Fetesha N. Downs

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    Always glad to hear how meaningful events end up being. It's sort of amazing that even when you know you'll be touched by something–you're never truly prepared for the power of it.

    Reply

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